Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Turning on the TAPS in Turkey!

Hi Everyone!

I know it's been a really long time since I last blogged (January - to be exact) and many of you (or maybe none of you) may be wondering what happened to this little H Face? Well in a nutshell, I left the slums of Slovakia, spent two great months in Italy (near Venice) and then took off for Turkey.

I had a few good beer in Italy (although they were mostly Guinness), I tried a few local craft brews like 32 and they were very good. The best mass-produced beer (in my opinion) was Pedavena. They also serve the draft beer in boot-shaped glasses (you know, Italy is in the shape of a boot, hee hee)

Anyhoo, after Italy, I took off for Turkey, Izmit to be exact. Izmit you say? Yes, Izmit. It is a medium-sized city that's about one hour from Istanbul. The beer selection here is just so-so. There are a couple of decent local beers (Efes and Marmara) but generally the selection here is very limited.

So I was very surprised when a few weeks ago, on a trip to Bostanci (which is an Istanbul suburb), I discovered TAPS, a local microbrewery. Of course I had to go there for lunch and a pint or two! In the picture above you see little me trying a pint of TAPS pilsner which is a classic Czech style Pilsner. It was very good and fresh but a few more hops would have taken it to an excellent rating. I also tried a Vienna style lager which was good too. The best beer on tap that day was their Hefeweizen, a German wheat beer. It was delicious and the perfect beer for a warm summer afternoon! On the way out (a little bit tipsy!) I asked the brew master to take a photo of me in front of one of the fermentors and here it is below.

TAPS rotates their draft selection and because of this I needed to go back a few more times. On subsequent visits, I tried a Rauchbier, another German beer - this one is a smoked beer which is made using malt that is dried using open fires which gives the malt (and the finished brew) a smoky flavour. I really liked this beer. I also tried an Amber Ale and a Golden Ale.

The best part is that you can also buy bottles to take home. TAPS sells their Red Ale and Kolsch in six packs. I guess I should also mention that they serve good food too. However, there's nothing wrong with a liquid lunch!

If this blog sounds like a paid advertisement for TAPS, it isn't. Although it should be. In a huge, world-class city like Istanbul you would think that the beer scene would be at least good. It's not. So when you see a place like TAPS, you really need to sing their praises. Now hopefully with the winter coming, we'll see a dark ale or maybe even a stout! That means it will be time to go back to TAPS. Cheers!

22 comments:

Grey Bear said...

Wow Happy! I think TAPS *should* hire you as a spokesperson. Great post, btw. Next time, let's go to TAPS together, ok?

Anonymous said...

Free Casino Bonus tyuueooru
http://stonewalljacksoncarnival.org/ - Web Casino
All you need to is a well operating computer and an Internet connection and you?re done with your gambling.
[url=http://stonewalljacksoncarnival.org/]Free Online Casino[/url]
It?s obviously due the comfort and easiness arriving with the online casino that many people, at present, are choosing to stick with online casino rather the traditional land-based casinos.
Casino Gambling Game
There are several advantages of playing online casino and some of them include: 1.

Anonymous said...

Opulently I to but I dream the brief should have more info then it has.

Anonymous said...

Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!

Anonymous said...

[url=http://vegasonlines.net/casino-northern-lights.html]online casino advertising [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/net-casino.html]bso casino [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/casino-phoenix-arizona.html]casino download [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/net-casino.html]5 97 best casino online payouts [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/tucson-casino.html]online casino wagering [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/littlewoods-casino.html]secure online casino [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/punta-cana-casino.html]casino sobrenatural [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/casino-bavaro.html]affiliate casino net program [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/foxwood-resort-casino.html]online casino texas hold em [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/casino-stocks.html]online casino gambling sport betting [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/crown-casino.html]fortune lounge online casino [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/elgin-grand-victoria-casino.html]juego casino on line [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/online-casino-affiliate-program.html]tunica casino forum [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/potawatomi-bingo-casino.html]juego de casino gratis [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/casino-movie.html]gran casino de madrid [/url]
gran casino de murcia
[b]monte carlo casino[/b]
curacao marriott beach resort emerald casino
casino alicante foto
[b]ranch casino vegas[/b]
ley casino
[u]bonus casino code coupon[/u]
azafata casino strip
aladdin casino resort
[b]maquina casino tragaperras truco ganar[/b]
casino strip poker video
casino machine slot

Anonymous said...

Nice post and this post helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you on your information.

Anonymous said...

parents against teenage dating [url=http://loveepicentre.com/]bengali dating customs[/url] free dating sites in canada http://loveepicentre.com/ tupperware dating games

Anonymous said...

[url=http://seghan.ru/go.php?sid=35][img]http://s003.radikal.ru/i203/1001/17/1008f12c7936.jpg[/img][/url]












[url=http://members.multimania.nl/weljgzi/]buy belmont cigarettes [/url]
buying cigarettes in belgium buy cigarettes online usa buy cigarettes using a credit card
[url=http://members.multimania.nl/sisebku/]buy a pack of cigarettes [/url]
legal age in canada to buy cigarettes ordering cigarettes online canada buying cigarettes in mexico
[url=http://members.multimania.nl/bpaonyk/]buy cigarettes online from discount store [/url]
buy parliament cigaretts online cheapest country to buy cigarettes where to buy cigarettes cheap in nyc?
[url=http://members.multimania.nl/oivaoep/]buy cigarettes in [/url]
buy cigarettes online in usa 21 to buy cigarettes buying tax free cigarettes online
[url=http://members.multimania.nl/rivuyqq/]buy cigarette wholesale [/url]
buy winston cigarettes online age to buy cigarettes in california money problems with buying cigarettes
[url=http://members.multimania.co.uk/fjctuke/]buy coloured cigarettes [/url]
buy used cigarette boats mail order cigarette filter buy wholesale cigarettes money order
[url=http://members.multimania.co.uk/laqoaom/]buying splash cigarette [/url]
how old to buy cigarettes buy stock in camel cigarettes buy american spirit organic light cigarettes

Anonymous said...

i genuinely love all your posting type, very remarkable.
don't give up as well as keep writing simply because it just very well worth to follow it.
impatient to view a whole lot more of your current content articles, have a good one!

Anonymous said...

Amiable fill someone in on and this enter helped me alot in my college assignement. Gratefulness you seeking your information.

Anonymous said...

muscle elegances [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/viagra-jelly.htm]viagra jelly[/url] diabetic mens wool socks http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/levitra-professional.htm she massaged too close and brushed my penis http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/viagra-plus.htm
high schools drug testing statistics [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/perdida-de-peso.htm]perdida de peso[/url] what is in science diet pet food [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/tenormin.htm]hitman blood money cheat codes ps2[/url]

Anonymous said...

disorder symbol [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/decadron.htm]decadron[/url] little blue pill http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/detrol.htm diet food delivered wise north carolina http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/tofranil.htm
abdominal weight loss exercise [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/lisinopril.htm]lisinopril[/url] karvonen heart rate calculation formula [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/phenergan.htm]gay muscle fetish[/url]

Anonymous said...

http://alwayshealth.in/pill/a239-pill
[url=http://alwayshealth.in/ocd/which-famous-people-suffered-from-ocd]update on prescription drugs[/url] owens napa pharmacy [url=http://alwayshealth.in/pharmacy/pharmacy-technician-state-certification-in-illinois]pharmacy technician state certification in illinois[/url]
definition of md in medicine http://alwayshealth.in/heart/sacred-heart-of-jesus-catholic-school-in-wadsworth
[url=http://alwayshealth.in/pill/a239-pill]celebrity drug addics[/url] female viagra [url=http://alwayshealth.in/people-health]people health[/url]
uk girls smuggle drugs in ghana http://alwayshealth.in/man-health/health-education-media-types
[url=http://alwayshealth.in/medical-encyclopedia/reported-medical-errors-from-asphyxia-neonatorum]anius drug cost[/url] drug trainwreck [url=http://alwayshealth.in/tea/tannic-acid-in-tea]tannic acid in tea[/url] therapeutic classification of drugs [url=http://alwayshealth.in/heart/listen-to-your-heart-covers]listen to your heart covers[/url]

Anonymous said...

travel 50 single http://wikitravel.in/travel/latino-travel-santa-maria cell travel brochure
[url=http://wikitravel.in/cruises/guided-danube-river-cruises]travel in russia[/url] cusco travel agency [url=http://wikitravel.in/disneyland/disneyland-club-33-entrance]disneyland club 33 entrance[/url]
jarman travel http://wikitravel.in/airlines/united-airlines-credit-card
[url=http://wikitravel.in/disneyland]leonia travel[/url] georgia travel guide [url=http://wikitravel.in/flight/microlight-flight-in-perth]microlight flight in perth[/url]
educational opportunities travel with us lakeland http://wikitravel.in/cruises/usaa-travel-and-cruises air travel class codes [url=http://wikitravel.in/travel/government-travel-opm]government travel opm[/url]

Anonymous said...

online adult courses http://theporncollection.in/porn-galleries/free-kim-kardashian-porn-videos
[url=http://theporncollection.in/lesbian-porn/cat-cora-lesbian]hentai quest[/url] how can i make a homemade dildo [url=http://theporncollection.in/gay-boy/los-angeles-gay-pride]los angeles gay pride[/url]
hentai titanime http://theporncollection.in/porn-galleries/chubby-girls-porn
[url=http://theporncollection.in/mature-xxx/mature-housewife-movies]pandora adult movie[/url] adult sites paypal affiliate programs [url=http://theporncollection.in/gay-man/gay-gagged-bondage]gay gagged bondage[/url]
top 2007 porn http://theporncollection.in/moms/moms-wh-suck-their-baby-dick
[url=http://theporncollection.in/lesbian-xxx/free-full-length-lesbian-sex-videos]brooke adams sexy[/url] h2o personal lubricant [url=http://theporncollection.in/gay-xxx/gay-male-phone-sex]gay male phone sex[/url]
hardcore harry potter hentai http://theporncollection.in/best-porn/julia-crow-porn
[url=http://theporncollection.in/gay-video/tom-selleck-gay]owen j roberts adult education classes[/url] anal orgasmus [url=http://theporncollection.in/free-hentai/running-wiz-hentai]running wiz hentai[/url]

Anonymous said...

the world travel map http://xwa.in/tourism/tourism-awareness-conference advantage travel magazine
[url=http://xwa.in/adventure/wild-foods-adventure]sato government travel[/url] toronto to whistler travel packages [url=http://xwa.in/plane-tickets/us-air-plane-tickets]us air plane tickets[/url]
travel pillow cases http://xwa.in/disneyland/disneyland-anaheim-all-inclusive
[url=http://xwa.in/tours/joy-tours]southern italy travel packages[/url] travel agent floor plan layout [url=http://xwa.in/adventure/history-of-modern-adventure-novel]history of modern adventure novel[/url]
northern ireland travel agent http://xwa.in/tourist/rome-tourist-landmark boiled egg travel container [url=http://xwa.in/hotel/strategies-for-getting-the-lowest-hotel-rate-advice]strategies for getting the lowest hotel rate advice[/url]

Anonymous said...

juvenile diabetes wristbands [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/catalogue/y.htm]medications without a prescription[/url] depression and anxiety scale for youth http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/phosphatidylserine.htm
black mold health affects [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/pletal.htm]pletal[/url] download celine dion my heart will go on [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/acai.htm ]gay boy model muscle [/url] exercise equipment to inhance breast area
delta dental thornton academy [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/antivirali.htm]antivirali[/url] gum infection and digestion http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/gum.htm
canada drugs internet [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/viagra.htm]viagra[/url] measures in post traumatic stress [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/faq.htm ]where can i buy wholesale diabetic food for business [/url] how to have a vaginal orgasm

Anonymous said...

oklahoma health acre authority [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/dilantin.htm]dilantin[/url] can child support be reduced based on a medical condition http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/retin-a-0-02-.htm
significance of study drug addiction [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/lopid.htm]lopid[/url] anxiety and mood swings [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/artrite.htm ]paragon medical [/url] nuclear medicine technician roger estep
blood type b diet legumes [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/diabecon.htm]diabecon[/url] b vitamin deficiency and nail problems http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/femcare.htm
ear infection i n children [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/generale-per-la-salute.htm]generale per la salute[/url] kentucky pharmacy infusion [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/lisinopril.htm ]blood pressure 149 over 96 [/url] two disorder link with neurotrnsmitter dopamine

Anonymous said...

how to build polish horseshoes http://www.thefashionhouse.us/of-white-pink-casual-tops-color166.html rushu shoes [url=http://www.thefashionhouse.us/xl-armani-size6.html]calvin klein totebag[/url] saint laurence university ny
http://www.thefashionhouse.us/dark-grey-casual-color16.html backstage hair designer [url=http://www.thefashionhouse.us/black-red-gucci-color15.html]designer evens[/url]

Anonymous said...

gambling gaming casino http://lwv.in/roulette/how-to-make-roulette-wheel-invitations bingo jackpot game
[url=http://lwv.in/keno/keno-games-no-download-no-money-involved]harrahs casino reno nv[/url] pictures of joker skulls [url=http://lwv.in/blackjack/internet-blackjack-free-online-casinos]internet blackjack free online casinos[/url]
smoking ban affects on bingo halls http://lwv.in/casino-online/government-casino-inspectors-gold-coast-australia
[url=http://lwv.in/keno/superball-keno-cheats]jupiters casino shows[/url] custom lottery promotions [url=http://lwv.in/jackpot/operation-jackpot-florida]operation jackpot florida[/url]
casino and sports book http://lwv.in/jackpot/powerball-news-jackpot-315 noirth american lottery [url=http://lwv.in/lottery/winning-indiana-lottery-numbers]winning indiana lottery numbers[/url]

Anonymous said...

maria from twelfth night the movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_springfield_rifle/]springfield rifle[/url] this christmas chris brown movie http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_last_stop_for_paul/ tenchi the movie 2
local movie theaters [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_camille_70/]camille 70[/url] unseen tamil movie clips http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_trinity_and_beyond/ movie theaters in haverhill ma
imdb movie database [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_the_nickel_children/]the nickel children[/url] forceful sex movie
full movie downloads [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_serpico/]serpico[/url] amateur porn movie gallery http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_the_last_unicorn/ actors in the movie dragonheart
marellen chasity jessica smoking movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_two_mules_for_sister_sara/]two mules for sister sara[/url] just friends movie trailer http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_azumi/ sexy movie

Anonymous said...

Azz i xst d franksxxxlinks, free porn. Auq v, ieu fjpusx|oki luurlkm p ez mr.